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Garcia's development would benefit bottom line

Garcia's development would benefit bottom line

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Avisail Garcia

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OAKLAND -- It's not difficult to envision Avisail Garcia competing for starts in right field out of Spring Training next year, even if the Tigers add an outfielder for the opposite corner or give fellow top prospect Nick Castellanos a shot as well.

Garcia might not be ready for this type of situation, manager Jim Leyland cautioned, but the Tigers need him. Whether he can take what he has learned during this stretch run and apply it could prove key.

He'll get a chance to apply some lessons this winter when he returns home to Venezuela. While he has played winter ball there the last few offseasons, he has yet to get extensive time at the top level. That could change this year.

If the Tigers could rely on homegrown talent for at least one outfield spot, it would prove huge in an offseason when they have some pay raises due on their pitching staff as well as center fielder Austin Jackson becoming arbitration-eligible.